Srinagar, May 25 -- Agriculture Minister Javid Ahmad Dar said on Monday said a sudden hailstorm that lashed several parts of Kashmir on Sunday evening has caused extensive damage to orchards and standing crops.

Describing it as a "very sad" and intense weather event, minister Dar said the hailstorm wreaked havoc in Lolab, Handwara, Baramulla, Tangmarg, Patan, Sangrama, Rafiabad, Bandipora, parts of Zaingeer, and the upper belts of Zachildara.

"There is little we can do to prevent such natural weather events," Dar told news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS).

He said the government is moving ahead with a weather-based crop insurance scheme, with the bidding process set to open soon."All formalities are expected to be completed within a m...